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A LEGEND AND A "\^ I S I O N , 



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BY MRS. ELIZABETH W. LONG. 



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J C TOT, PRINT. BALI. 



A LEGEND AND A VISION, 
BY 5IRS. ELIZABETH W. LONG. 



"Once on a time," in the old days of Rome,— 
The beautiful old time that lies in state 
Within tradition's dim and echoing aisles, 
And, with the tall fair lights of Poesy 
In golden legends burning round it, watched 
By stately forms of steadfast-eyed Romance; 
Like- some great king, that seems ''not surely dead. 
But sleeping," 'neath a carved canopy, 
Waiting with folded hands his resurrection;— 

Once on a time, a cry of wail was heard, 
Startling the hearts of all that dwelt in Rome. 



2 THE PARALLEL. 

Eacli at his fellow Koman stared witli awe; 
With wild bewilderment the multitude 
Kan to and fro, and shrieked, and in dismay- 
Called on the gods to pity, on the priest 
To guide, and on the visioned seer to say 
The cause and cure of the wide-spreading doom, 
That threatened to destroy the ancient town, 
Its homes, its temples, and its halls of state. 
Eight in the midst of Kome a gulf had oped; 
From east to west, mysterious and slow, 
It wider stretched its earthquake jaws apart, 
And muttered, "Kuin! wo! swift wo to Rome!" 

Meanwhile, not all unheard the people's prayer. 
A word of wisdom was vouchsafed to them. 
The Seer came forth, and with the awful front 
Of one who hath had speech with the high gods, 
And knows it, uttered thus the Oracle: 



THE PARALLEL. 

"All must end here; yon widening chasm will yawn, 

Insatiate, for its destined prey, nor close 

Until great Kome hath ceased from off the earth, 

Unless with one accord ye quick throw in 

The choicest and most precious things ye have." 

Then, as with sudden horror frozen, stood 

That human sea, still as a mer-de-glace 

Amid the mighty Alps, when through the heavens 

The thunder of an avalanche dies away. 

'Twas but a moment ere outstepp'd a youth. 
And, gaining with a bound the temple's porch. 
Spake to the crowd these few heart-kindling words: 
"What have we of most precious? Gold, wine, gems? 
Houses, and garments, and fair women? Nay! 
Rome's brave sons are her jewels. Nought but blood, 
The best blood of her noblest sons, will save. 
Follow me, now, ye that are worthiest." 



4 THE PARALLEL. 

Then went they after him, the chosen youths, 

Riding on horses, and with helm and spear. 

And into that great gulf leaped with a shout; 

Which straightway closing eagerly on all, 

Old Rome was saved. * * * The legend endeth here. 



Come home, my thoughts! Come home. 
Oh, my loy'd country! Oh, my own great land! 
Whose head auroras crown, while either hand 

Plays with an ocean's foam. 

And graspeth mountain chains; 
Whose fair feet are in Southern fields a straying:— 
All climes bring garments for thy proud arraying; 

All nations seek thy plains; 

The world's heart worships thee; 
Thy star gleams brightest in the new day's morn, 
And Hope for Earth seems possible, twin-born 



THE PARALLEL. 

With thy great Unity! 

And ONE thou still must he. 
One, — as thy Biver, rapid, deep, and wide, 
Gathers his watery wealth from every side, 
Even so Earth's mingled hlood, in one full tide, 

Flows mightily in thee. 

And yet, from shore to shore. 
We see a "great gulf" opening, hroad and deep, 
And North and South are pressing towards its steep 

To perish evermore . 

Men of the North, forbear! 
Urge not this conflict, in the name of right. 
'Tis but a spurious conscience, fatuous light, 

That leads you thus to dare 

This horrid gulf's dark wo. 
Division will devour no partial prey; 
It is not given on either side to say, 

''Thou only ruin know!" 



6 THE PARALLEL. 

Oh! proud, high Southern hearts, 
Shrink, shrink from this great peril's agony! 
Stifle at once the bitter thoughts that be 

Like fiery, rankling darts, 

Fix'd in your inmost soul. 
A sense of injury, of wrong, of weakness, — 
Bidding you spurn all reasoning, all meekness; 

Too jealous of control! 

How can ye live apart, — 
Southron with Southron link'd, — North self-sustained,- 
While every contest won, is ruin gained? 

Ye have one common heart, 

One common destiny. 
One life-stream circleth in your swelling veins. 
Born with one struggle's awful rending pains, 

With one death raust ve die. 



THE PARALLEL. 



Yet ye can close this chasm. 
Fling in your precious things, more dear than life, 
Your pledged honor, patriotism, hate of strife, 
With warm enthusiasm! — 
The memory of your dead, 
Your glorious dead! who, North and South, their blood 
Mingled in battle, 'neath one banner stood, 
By one great leader led! — 
Spirit of Compromise, 
That, like the white winged dove o'er chaos moving, 
Stilleth the angry waves of party, proving 
How loving, just, and wise 
The first great councils were, 
That, in this spirit, built the compact strong, 
Which, spite of prejudice, and wrath, and wrong, 
Arose, and still is here! 



8 THE PARALLEL. 

Oh, young, true, trusting hearts! 
Your best life's life must save us, — for the old 
Have grown aweary, selfish, hardened, cold, 

In politicians' arts. 

They do not see the fate 
That glares on the Kepublic. Blind with pride, 
They hope in triumph o'er this wreck to stride 

To higher seats of state. 

For, always must the age 
Trust in her Youth, the heirs of her old glory; 
Their act can change to an heroic story, 

Their country's blackest page. 



Alas! vision is o'er, 
And prophecy faileth; the far future lies 
Murky and dim, and cruel to mine eyes, 

That ache, yet see no more. 

New Yokk, October 30, 1S4S. 



LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 



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